Technology-driven companies worldwide are reassessing their artificial intelligence (AI) strategies as operational costs rise sharply. Experts note that after ChatGPT’s popularity in 2022, AI firms initially offered low-cost services supported by investor funding. Kevin Simback of Delphi Labs described that period as one of 'subsidized intelligence.' Now, leading AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic are shifting toward profitability and preparing to attract new investment.

The growing use of AI agents, which perform complex tasks like scheduling, coding, and file management, is driving up token-based costs. Increased demand for chips and data centers is also straining computing infrastructure. Mark Burton of OmniUX observed that AI costs are rising rapidly, especially among software developers. Analysts warn that in some cases, token expenses can equal or exceed an employee’s salary within months.

To curb expenses, many firms are turning to open-source or smaller, specialized AI models. Experts predict AI will become a commodity, where selecting cost-effective models for specific tasks will be key, though demand for high-end systems will persist among advanced users.